Seat for bleachers and the like



March 13, 1962 R. J. MURPHY 3,025,104

SEAT FOR BLEACHERS AND THE LIKE Filed oct. 6, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I\ Q 4 45 30 /20 2I 25 23 Y 4I 42 4 SQ \4o FIG. 3 32.7 3l) 47 "212112. I /|9 2I /22 5l 27 33 Il' 3 ,B 2a m 5| "i 29 22 I 23 INVENTOR.

26 '4 49 26 |728 RAYMOND J. MURPHY Ie 27' BY FIG. 4 '3 March 13, 1962 R. J. MURPHY 3,025,104

SEAT FOR BLEACHERS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 6, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 r JNVENTOR. 3 RAYMOND J. MURPHY FIG. 9 ATTY.

March 13, 1962 Filed oct. e, 1958 FIG. I3

R. J. MURPHY SEAT 'FOR BLEACHERS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. RAYMOND J. MURPHY ATT'Y.

Fatent @ffice 3,0Zb4 Patented Mar. 13, i952 3,025,104 SEAT FR BIJEA'CHERS AND THE LIKE Raymond 5f. Murphy, Aiton, Mo., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Med art Lockers, Inc. Fiied Oct. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 765,547 13 Ciains. (Si. 297-218) This invention relates in general to seating structures and, more particularly, to a certain new and useful improvement in a seat for bleachers of the type ordinarily used in auditoriums, gymnasiums, and the like.

[n many gymnasiums, auditorums, and the like, it has become a common practice to install various types of fixed and telescopic or folding bleachers. Bleachers of this type are usually provided with seat boards which are usually nothing more than relatively large planks of lumber or, in some cases, the seat boards may be formed of sheet metal or of molded plastic. After being used for a period of time, seat boards formed of wood sometimes become hazardous in that they frequently tend to splinter with the result that injury to spectators may result therefrom. Furthermore., seat boards, whether made of wood, metal, or plastic, are hard, and become quite uncomfortable for spectators to sit upon for prolonged periods of time.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a bleacher seat having a covered resilient cushion, with the result that the seat is quite comfortable to sit upon for prolonged periods of time.

lt is also an object of the present invention to provide a seat of the type stated in which the cushioning-pad cover is readily removable for purposes of cleaning or repair.

It is a further and more specific object of the present invention to provide a seat of the type stated in which the removable cover fits snugly and tightly over the resilient cushioning-pad and thereby prevents wrinkles in the cover.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a seat of the type stated which, by reason of its being padded, eliminates the need for seat cushions.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a telescopic bleacher wherein the fascia or riser boards are padded so that when the bleacher is closed, it will present cushioned wall toward the gymnasium.

With the above and other objects in view, my inven tion resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a bleacher provided with seats constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 3--3 and 4 4, respectively, of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the seat, the end portion being broken away;

FIGS. 6 and 7, and 8 are fragmentary sectional views similar to FIG. 2 and showing the manner of installing the end cap which forms part of the present invention;

FiG. 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a modified form of seat;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pair of adjacent telescopic bleachers, one being closed and the other be ing open, and showing another modified form of the present invention;

FIG. l1 is a side elevational view of a closed bleacher;

FIG. l2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 12 and showing a further modification of the present invention.

Referring now in more detail and by reference charl acters to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention, A designates a telescopic bleacher or seating structure, preferably of the general type disclosed in the application of George R. Chervenka, Serial No. 346,870, filed April 6, 1953, now Patent No. 2,870,492, dated January 27, ,1959, and comprising a plurality of transversely spaced rectangular panels 1, each including spaced vertical posts 2, 3, formed of angle section and being provided at their upper ends with a flanged plate 4. The posts 2, 3, are cross-connected by an angle member 5, and secured to the posts 2, 3, and extending forwardly therefrom is a plurality of horizontal beams 6, each of which includes a bead flange 7 for slidable trackforming engagement with a slide fitting 8, which is, in turn, rigidly mounted on the upper end of a shiftable panel 9, formed of spaced vertical posts 11i, 11, substantially similar to the posts 2, 3, previously described. Rigidly secured to, and extending transversely of, the beams 6 intermediate the panels 1, 9, is a horizontal foot board 12, and welded to, and extending upwardly from, the forward end of the beam 6 are spaced parallel seat-mounting angle members 13 having horizontal bight portions 14- and forward vertical legs 15. Rigidly secured to the tianged plate 4 is a vertical fascia board 16 and similarly secured to the forward vertical legs 15 is a fascia board 16', which is identical to the fascia board 16.

Mounted on the upper side of the bight portion 14 by means of mounting screws 17 and U-shaped spring clips 18 is a beam-like seat B, preferably formed of a. sheet metal channel c which comprises a top web 19 provided along its opposite longitudinal margins with parallel vertical side Walls 20, 21. At their lower margins, the side walls 20, 21, are integrally provided with inwardly projecting iianges 22, 23, which are bent slightly upwardly at their inner margins 24, 25, and for purposes presently more fully appearing. As best seen by reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the screws 17 project loosely through holes 26, which are formed in the bight portion 14. The screws 17 are selftapping and are threaded through aligned holes 27, 27', formed in spaced parallel arms 28, 28 of the spring clips 18. The upper arm 28 extends laterally over the flanges 22, 23, and is provided with a downwardly projecting serrated lip 29 which bears rmly against the anges 22, 23. Thus, when the screws 17 are tightened, the arms 28, 2S", are drawn together, causing the serrated lip 29 to bite into the flanges 22, 23, and thereby firmly secure the seat B to the seat mounting angle member 13.

Bonded to the channel c by means of a. layer of adhesive 30 is a relatively thick, sponge rubber cushioningpad, preferably of cured polyurethene foam, the pad 31 being subsantially cocxtensive with the top web 19 and the forwardly presented face of the side wall 21. Disposed over the pad 31 and also around the side walls 29, 21, and flanges 22, 23, is a pad-cover 32 which is preferably formed of heavy gauge, flexible, vinyl resin sheet material. As best seen by reference to FIG. 5, the longitudinal margins 33, 34, of the pad-cover 32 are cut away to provide clearance spaces 35, 36, for the angle member 13 and the longitudinal margins 33, 34, are, furthermore, enclosed in strips of binding tape 37, 38, the latter being stitched or otherwise firmly secured thereto. Mounted in the pad-cover 32 adjacent the longitudinal margins 33, 34, are grommets 39, 40, which receive the ends of tension springs 41, 42, the other ends of which are hooked through spaced holes 43, 44, formed in a series of brackets 45. The brackets 45 are preferably welded to the underside of the top web 19 at spaced intervals lengthwise therealong and in approximate alignment with the grommets 319, di). Thus, the springs 4l, 42., hold the pad-cover 32. tautly and conf-ormably around the cushioning-pad 3l, side walls 20, 2l, and llanges Z2, 23, thereby providing a smooth, wrinkle-free covering for the pad 3l. Furthermore, since the end portions 2 25, are bent upwardly so as to form a small angle with the pad-cover 32, as seen in FIG. 3, the tension exerted by the springs 4l, d2, will pull the pad-cover 32 tightly around the pad 3i without the pad-cover 32 passing over any sharp metallic edges which might otherwise abrade the pad-cover 32 or increase the fuctional forces opposing the springs al, d2. It should also be noted that, while the pad-cover 32 is under a slight amount of tension, sullcient to make it wrinklefree, this tension is not excessive since a certain amount of tension is taken up by the compressibility of the sponge pad 3l.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6 8, it will be seen that the normal length of the pad-cover 32 is slightly greater than the length of the seat channel c, with the result that, upon hooking the springs 4l, 4:2, in place, the transverse ends 46, 47, ot the pad-cover will overhang the ends of `the seat channel c. However, in order to close oil the ends of the seat channel c, a pair of sheet metal end caps 4S, 49, are provided which are shaped to tit snugly and conc-rrnably within the ends of the seat channel c, as shown in FlGS. 2 and 8. Consequently, prior to placing the end caps ligt, within the seat channel c, it is merely necessaryl to fold back the ends de, 47, so that they lie within the seat channel c, as shown in PEG. 7, whereupon the end caps d3, 49, can be mounted in piace, allowing the frictional forces between the end caps 48, 49, transverse ends de, 47, and seat channel c, to hold the end caps fili, 29, rigidly in position. in order to insure a tlush lit between the end caps 48, 49, and the transverse ends of the seat channel c, sto-ps Si), Si are secured to the top web i9 and side walls Ztl, 2i. Thus, the end caps 48, d?, provide a simple, yet effective, means for covering the transverse ends of the sponge rubber pad 3l while at the same time preventing external exposure of the edges of the pad-cover ends 45, 47.

'lt will be apparent that the pad-cover 32 provides an ellective covering for the sponge pad 3l, and, since the pad-cover 32 is always maintained under a slight amount of tension, it will not form wrinkles which might tend to crack or otherwise deteriorate the pad-cover 32. However, if cleaning or other maintenance is required of the pad-cover 32, it is merely necessary to remove the end caps 48, 49, as well as the springs 41, 42, from the gro.. mets 39, 4d, whereupon the cover 32 can be readily separated from the remainder of the seating structure A ln some cases, however, it may be more convenient to remove the mounting clips i3 and completely separate the seat B from the angle member i3 prior to removal of the pad-cover 32. ln connection with the present invention, it should be understood that while the seat B is illustrated las being mounted on a telescopic seating structure A, the seat B may also be mounted on various types of tixed or knock-down seating structures.

It is also possible to provide a -modilied form of seat B', as shown in FlG. 9, which consists of a seat board plank 52 formed of wood, the plank S2 being secured to the `bight 14 of the angle member i3 by mounting screws 53, 54. ln this form of the invention, the cushioning-pad 31 is bonded to the plank 52 at the topl and vertical surfaces thereot, and the pad-cover 32 is drawn ltightly around the pad 3l and is secured to the underside of the seat plank 52 by means of lines of staples 55, 56. Preferably, vnarrow strips 57, 58, may be disposed over the staples 55, 56, and screwed into the seat plank 52 so as to prevent unauthorized removal of the staples 55, 56.

lt is also possible to provide another modified form of the present invention as shown in FIGS. l0-12 in which a plurality of the telescopic seating structures A are disposed in side-by-side relation along a gymnasium wall 5S. The seating structures A may include any number of identical tiers T depending upon the number of. seats desired and the height to which the structure is to be carried, and each tier T comprises a series of laterally aligned panels 9, a foot board 12, a seat member B. Commencing with the lowermost tier a plurality of the ltiers are each provided with fascia members which comprise a metallic channel el having a Vertical web 62 provided on its longitudinal margins with top and bottom walls 63, 6d, which are, in turn, provided with inwardly turned llanges 65, 66, similar to the ilanges ZZ, 2 Bonded to the forwardly presented face of the web 62 is a sponge rubber cushioning-pad 67, and disposed around rhe cushioning-pad 67, walls 63, 64, and llanges 65, e6, is a flexible vinyl resin pad-cover 68. The longitudinal margins of the pad-cover 68 has springs 69, 78', attached thereto, the springs 69, 70, being, in turn, connected to a series of brackets 7l, in a manner similar to that in the seat member B. End caps '72, 73 may also be fitted over the transverse ends of the channel 6l, and the riser @il is removably secured to the forward vertical l5 by screws 74, and spring clips 75 which are similar to the screws 17 and spring clips 18.

When the fascia member Gil is mounted on the legs 1S, the vertical portion of the pad 3l and pad 67 are in substantially vertical registration. Furthermore, when the seating structure A is telescoped to the closed position as shown in FIG. 11, the fascia members 60 will be in vertical registration and the spaces between the fascia members 6i? will be occupied by the fprwardly presented padded edges of the seat members B. Consequently, when the seating structure A is closed, a padded vertical wall-like structure of substantial height will be presented toward the gymnasium. Since many active sports are often played in the gymnasium with the structures A closed, it sometimes happens that a participant will run into the structure and become injured. However, the padded wall-like formation of the fascia and seat members materially reduces the possibility of injuries in such cases. ln the present embodiment of the invention the lower seven `fascia members are padded so that the cushioned wall-like structure will be approximately seven feet in height. However, it will be apparent that a larger or smaller number of fascia members 60 may be used.

In FIG. 13 a further modication is shown wherein the seat and riser members 76, 77 each comprise wood planks 73, 79, which are provided with sponge rubber cushioning-pads 8d, Si, thereon. The cushioning-pads 80, Si, are enclosed in pad-covers 82, 83, which are stapled to the underside of the planks 75, 77, in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 9. Consequently, when the seating structure A is closed, the riser members 7 6, 77, will form a vertical cushioned wall.

lt should be understood that changes and modications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the seat ifor bleachers and the like may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A bleacher seat comprising a relatively rigid support-forming member having an upwardly presented horizontal top face, a forward side face and rear side face, said side faces depending `from the forward and rear longitudinal margins respectively of the top face, a resilient cushioning-pad mounted on said horizontal top face having its rear longitudinal margin substantially coincident with the rear longitudinal margin .of the top face and being integrally provided along its forward margin with a depending flange which is a substantial continuation of the pad, said flange being disposed in overlying relation upon the forward side face of the support-forming member, a flexible sheet-like cover disposed in overlying relation to said pad and said side faces, said cover being disposed in tightly drawn flush contact against the rear face of the support-forming member and over the forwardly presented face of the pad flange whereby to hold the pad against lateral shifting in relation to the top face of the support-member during use, said cover also extending under said support-forming member and terminating in spaced margins, and means for securing the margins to the support-forming member.

2. A bleacher seat comprising a relatively rigid support-forming member having an upwardly presented horizontal top face, a forward side face and rear side face, said side faces depending from the forward and rear longitudinal margins respectively of the top face, a sponge rubber cushioning-pad bonded to said horizontal top face having its rear longitudinal margin substantially co-incident with the rear longitudinal margin of the top face and being integrally provided along its forward margin with a depending flange which is a substantial continuation of the pad, said flange being disposed in overlying relation upon the forward side face of the support-forming member, a flexible sheet-like cover disposed in overlying relation to said pad and said side faces, said cover being disposed in tightly drawn flush Contact against the rear face of the support-forming member and over the forwardly presented face of the pad flange whereby to hold the pad against lateral shifting in relation to the top face of the support-member during use, said cover also extending under said support-forming member and terminating in spaced margins, and means for securing the margins to the bottom side of the horizontal surface portion of said support-forming member.

3. A bleacher seat comprising a relatively rigid support-forming member having an upwardly presented horizontal top face, a forward side face and rear side face, said side faces depending from the forward and rear longitudinal margins respectively o-f the top face, a resilient cushioning-pad mounted on said horizontal top face having its rear longitudinal margin substantially co-incident with the rear longitudinal margin of the top face and being integrally provided along its forward margin with a depending flange which is a substantial continuation of the pad, said flange being disposed in overlying relation upon the forward side face of the support-forming member, a flexible sheet-like cover disposed in facewise overlying relation to said pad and said side faces, said cover being disposed in tightly drawn ush contact against the rear -face of the support-forming member and over the forwardly presented face of the pad flange whereby to hold the pad against lateral shifting in relation to the top face of the support-member during use, said cover also extending in facewise contact with downwardly presented surfaces of said support-forming member and terminating in spaced margins, and means for securing the margins to said support-forming member.

4. A bleacher seat comprising a relatively rigid support-forming member having an upwardly presented horizontal top face, a forward side face and rear side face, said side faces depending from the forward and rear longitudinal margins respectively of the top face, a resilient cushioning-pad mounted ton said horizontal top face having its rear longitudinal margin substantially co-incident with the rear longitudinal margin of the top face and being integrally provided along its forward margin with a depending flange which is a substantial continuation of the pad, said flange being disposed in overlying relation upon the forward side face of the support-forming member, a flexible sheet-like cover disposed in overlying relation to said pad and said side faces, said cover being disposed in tightly drawn flush contact against the rear face of the support-forming member and over the forwardly presented face of the pad flange whereby to hold the pad against lateral shifting in relation to the top face of the support-member during use, said cover also extending under said support-forming member and terminating in spaced margins, and resilient means for securing the margins to the bottom side of the horizontal surface portion of said support-forming member.

5. A bleacher seat comprising a channel having a top web provided respectively along its front and rear longitudinal margins with spaced parallel depending front and rear walls, a resilient cushioning-pad mounted on the upwardly presented face of the top web having its rear longitudinal margin substantially co-incident with the rear longitudinal margin of the top web and along its front margin extending continuously down over the forwardly presented face of the front wall in overlying relation thereon in the provision of a resilient downturned flange, a flexible sheet-like pad-cover overlying the cushioning-pad drawn down in tight flush contactive engagement upon the rearwardly presented face of the rear wall and in covering relation upon the forwardly presented face of the downturned flange, said pad-cover terminating in spaced margins which are inwardly of said side walls, a plurality of springs connected at one end to the padcover adjacent said margins, and means for connecting the other ends of said springs to the channel.

6. A bleacher seat comprising a channel having a top web provided respectively along its front and rear longitudinal margins with spaced parallel depending front and rear walls, a resilient cushioning-pad mounted on the upwardly presented face of the top web having its rear longitudinal margin substantially co-incident with the rear longitudinal margin of the top web and along its front margin extending continuously down over the forwardly presented face of the front wall in overlying relation thereon in the provision of a resilient downturned flange, a flexible sheet-like pad-cover overlying the cushioningpad drawn down in tight flush contactive engagement upon the rearwardly presented face of the rear wall and in covering relation upon the forwardly presented face of the downturned flange, said pad-cover terminating in spaced margins which are inwardly of said side walls, a plurality of springs connected at one end to the pad-cover adjacent said margins, and means mounted on the underside of said top web for connecting the other ends of said springs to said web.

7. A bleacher seat comprising a channel having a top web provided respectively along its front and rear longitudinal margins with spaced parallel depending front and rear walls, a resilient cushioning-pad mounted on the upwardly presented face of the top web having its rear longitudinal margin substantially co-incident with the rear longitudinal margin of the top web and along its front margin extending continuously down over the forwardly presented face of the front wall in overlying relation thereon in the provision of a resilient downturned flange, a flexible sheet-like pad-cover overlying the cushioning-pad drawn down in tight flush contactive engagement upon the rearwardly presented face of the rear wall and in covering relation upon the forwardly presented face of the downturned flange, said pad-cover terminating in spaced margins which are inwardly of said side walls, a plurality of depending brackets secured to the underside of said top web, and a plurality of springs connected at one end to the pad-cover adjacent said margins, said springs also being connected at their other ends to said brackets.

8. A leacher seat comprising a channel having a top web provided respectively along its front and rear longitudinal margins with spaced parallel depending front and rear walls, a resilient cushioning-pad mounted on the upwardly presented face of the top web having its rear longitudinal margin substantially co-incident with the rear longitudinal margin of the top web :and along its front margin extending continuously down over the forwardly presented face of the front wall in overlying relation thereon in the provision of a resilient downturned flange, a flexible sheet-like pad-cover overlying the cushioning-pad drawn down in tight flush contactive engagement upon the rearwardly presented face of the rear wall and in covering relation upon the forwardly presented face of the downturned flange, said pad-cover terminating in spaced margins which are inwardly of said side walls, a plurality of spaced grommets mounted in said pad-cover adjacent said margins, a plurality of depending brackets secured to the underside of said top weh, and a plurality of springs removably hooked at one end in said grommets and at their other ends in said brackets.

9. A bleacher seat comprising a channel having a top web provided respectively along its front and rear longitudinal margins with spaced parallel depending front and rear walls of equal size, a pair of inwardly projecting flanges formed at the lower edges of said front and rear walls, a resilient cushioning-pad mounted on the upwardly presented face of the top web having its rear longitudinal margin substantially co-incident with the rear longitudinal margin of the top web and along its front margin extending continuously down over the forwardly presented face of the front wall in overlying relation thereon in the provision of a resilient downturned flange, a flexible sheet-like pad-cover overlying the cushioning-pad drawn down in tight flush contactive engagement upon the rearwardly presented face of the rear wall and in covering relation upon the forwardly presented face of the downturned flange, said pad-cover terminating in spaced longitudinal margins located inwardly of said flanges, a plurality of springs connected at one end to the pad-cover adjacent said margins, and means for connesting the other ends of said springs to the underside of said top web.

10. A bleacher seat comprising a channel having a top web provided respectively along its front and rear longitudinal margins with spaced parallel depending front and rear walls, a pair of inwardly projecting flanges formed at the lower edges of said front and rear walls, said flanges being bent upwardly at their inner margins, a resilient cushioning-pad mounted on the upwardly presented face of the top web having its rear longitudinal margin substantially co-incident with the rear longitudinal margin of the top web and along its front margin extending continuously down over the forwardly presented face of the front wall in overlying relation thereon in the provision of a resilient downturned liange, a flexible sheetlike pad-cover overlying the cushioning-pad drawn down in tight liush contactive engagement upon the rearwardly presented face of the rear wall and in covering relation upon the forwardly presented face of the downturned flange, said pad-cover terminating in spaced longitudinal margins located inwardly of said flanges, the pad-cover adjacent said margins forming a small angle with the upwardly bent portions of said flanges, a plurality of springs connected at one end to the pad-cover adjacent said margins, and means for connecting the other ends of said springs to the channel.

11. A bleacher seat comprising a channel having a top web provided respectively along its front and rear longitudinal margins with spaced parallel depending front and rear walls, a resilient Cushing-pad mounted on the upwardly presented face of the top web having its rear longitudinal margin substantially co-incident with the rear longitudinal margin of the top web and along its front margin extendin T continuously down over the forwardly presented face of the front wall in overlying relation thereon in the provision of a resilient downturned flange, a ilexible sheet-like pad-cover overlying said cushioning-pad drawn down in tight flush contactive engagement upon the rearwardly presented face of the rear wall and in covering relation upon the forwardly presented face of the downturned flange, said cushioning-pad being folded back at its transverse margins so as to lie within the contines of the channel, an end cap snugly fitted into the transverse ends of the channel and lying against the transverse margins of the pad-cover, said end cap having a cross-sectional contour similar to the cross-sectional contour of the channel, said pad-cover also terminating in spaced longitudinal margins which are inwardly of said side walls, and resilient means for connecting said longitudinal margins to said channel.

12. A bleacher seat comprising a channel having a top web provided respectively along its front and rear longitudinal margins with spaced parallel depending front and rear walls of equal size, a pair of inwardly projecting flanges formed at the lower edges of said front and rear walls, a resilient cushioning-pad mounted on the upwardly presented face of the top web having its rear longitudinal margin substantially co-incident with the rear longitudinal margin of the top web and along its front margin extending continuously down over the forwardly presented face of the front wall in overlying relation thereon in the provision of a resilient downturned flange, a flexible sheet-like pad-cover overlying the cushioning-pad drawn down in tight ush contactive engagement upon the rearwardly presented face of the downturned ange, said pad-cover terminating in spaced longitudinal margins located inwardly of said flanges, and a plurality of springs connected at one end to the pad-cover adjacent said margins, said top web being provided on its underface with depending ear-forming means for stationary engagement with the other ends of said springs.

13. A bleacher seat comprising a channel having a top web provided respectively along its front and rear longitudinal margins with spaced parallel depending front and rear walls of equal size, a pair of inwardly projecting flanges formed at the lower edges of said front and rear walls, a resilient cushioning-pad mounted on the upwardly presented face of the top web having its rear longitudinal margin substantially co-incident with the rear longitudinal margin of the top web and along its front margin extending continuously down over the forwardly presented face of the front wall in overlying relation thereon in the provision of a resilient downturned flange, a flexible sheet-like pad-cover overlying the cushioning-pad drawn down in tight flush contactive engagement upon the rearwardly presented face of the downturned flange, said padcover terminating in spaced longitudinal margins located inwardly of said flanges, and a plurality of springs connected at one end to the pad-cover adjacent said margins, said top web being provided on its underface with depending ear-forming means for stationary engagement with the other ends of said springs, said ear-forming means being substantially shorter than the front and rear walls so that said springs will be held in upwardly and inwardly inclined position toward the center portion of the top web.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,351,995 Cornish Sept. 7, 1920 1,766,316 Vance June 24, 1930 1,938,879 Waggoner et al Dec. 12, 1933 1,940,637 Stubnitz Dec. 19, 1933 2,205,624 Horn June 25, 1940 2,257,211 Willoughby Sept. 30, 1941 2,348,633 Komaska May 9, 1944 2,449,500 Nordmark Sept. 14, 1948 2,646,840 Good July 28, 1953 2,706,835 Ullom Apr. 26,v 1955 2,870,492 Chervenka Jan. 27, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,164,096 France May 5, 1958 

